Orion chute tested again

NASA this week completed another test of the Orion spacecraft parachutes at the Yuma Army Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona. The test was to examine the maximum pressure that Orion's parachutes might face when returning to Earth. A C-130 dropped a dart-shaped test vehicle with a simulated Orion parachute compartment from 25,000 feet. Orion will be launched in 2017 by NASA's Space Launch System. (Source: NASA, 08/29/12) Gulf Coast note: Stennis Space Center, Miss., will test the engines for SLS; Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is building the Orion and will build the core stage of SLS.